Vawter’s golds lead Comets in opener

April 2, 2014

CONRAD - BCLUW's Mallory Vawter won three individual events prior to plummeting temperatures forcing a premature ending of the Comet Early Bird on Monday.

Vawter won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 2 3/4 inches, and also claimed first place in the 100-meter dash (13.13 seconds) and the 100 hurdles (16.56). The Comets also took second in the shuttle hurdle relay and the 4x200 relay to round out their top-three finishes in the first meet of the spring season.

Sarah Boomgarden of South Hardin held off GMG's Caitlin Appelgate for first place in the high jump, going over 5-2 to Appelgate's 5 feet. Boomgarden also took second to Vawter in the 100.

West Marshall's Jennifer Davis took the top spot in the shot put with a heave of 40-7 and she also came in second in the discus (90-7 3/4).

North Tama's Abi Watson was a comfortable winner in the 3,000, clocking 11:38 to outdistance South Hardin's Claire Damon. The Redhawks also won the distance medley ahead of the Tigers, while East Marshall came in third.

The Mustangs finished atop the field in the 4x800, while Grundy Center's Hannah Stumberg won the 400 (1:07.68).

On the boys' side, Gladbrook-Reinbeck led the area teams on the scoreboard with a pair of event wins prior to the suspension of the meet. Zach Pierce paced the field in the shot put (47-10), while the Rebels were victorious in the 4x200 as well.

Host BCLUW had a pair of first-place finishes as well, with Cole Silver holding off familiar competition in the 3,200 (10:24.7). East Marshall's Nick Meling was second and Omar Martinez of North Tama placed third.

The Comets' Will Garber garnered gold in the 110-meter high hurdles (15:89) in the final event to be completed.

GMG's Bryce Newcomb won the 400 in 54.67 and took third in the long jump (19-6 3/4). Brock Fisher finished second for the Wolverines in the high jump (6-4).

East Marshall's lone victory was in the 4x800, while Grundy Center's top finish came from Brock Rohler with a toss of 132-1 in the discus. South Hardin's Glendon Mesch was third (129-7 1/2).